Nakuru County Senator Tabitha Karanja has intensified her criticism of Governor Susan Kihika over her extended maternity leave. Despite receiving support from several politicians, including the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) and Deputy Governor David Kones, concerns continue to rise about the county’s governance.

Karanja Acknowledges Kihika’s Maternity Leave

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, March 26, Senator Karanja recognized Governor Kihika’s maternity leave but emphasized that Nakuru’s problems go beyond the governor’s absence.

“Our concern is not that Governor Susan Kihika went to give birth. In fact, if that is true, we want to congratulate her. We heard she had twins, and we thank God for that blessing,” Karanja stated.

Concerns Over Prolonged Absence

The senator, however, questioned why the governor had been away for a year instead of the standard three-month maternity leave. She also criticized Kihika for failing to formally inform Nakuru residents about her leave and who would be in charge during her absence.

According to Karanja, the law requires any transfer of power to be officially published in the Kenya Gazette and communicated to the public.

“Right now, the county government is at a standstill. Many important projects, such as the reopening of War Memorial Hospital, remain incomplete. The court ordered its reopening last year, yet nothing has been done,” she said.

Key Projects Stalled

Karanja highlighted several projects that had reportedly been abandoned due to the governor’s absence, including:

• Hospital renovations
• Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers
• School feeding programs
• Stadium construction

She also pointed out that the county had failed to meet its revenue target of Ksh10.9 billion and struggled with pending bills.

Calls for Impeachment

The senator urged Nakuru County Assembly Members (MCAs) to take action, warning that residents were growing frustrated. She reiterated her earlier call for Governor Kihika to resign or face impeachment.

Previously, on February 18, Karanja had warned that Kihika could face an impeachment motion or a vote of no confidence in the Senate.

KEWOPA and Deputy Governor Defend Kihika

Following these accusations, female politicians from KEWOPA defended Governor Kihika, calling the criticism a form of gender-based political bullying.

Additionally, Deputy Governor David Kones assured residents that there was no leadership vacuum, stating that Kihika had officially authorized him to run county affairs in her absence.

As tensions rise, it remains to be seen how this political battle will unfold in Nakuru County.

Nakuru in Chaos: Senator Karanja Accuses Governor Kihika of “Ghost Rule” Amid Year-Long Maternity Leave, Pushes for Impeachment

The post Nakuru in Chaos: Senator Karanja Accuses Governor Kihika of “Ghost Rule” Amid Year-Long Maternity Leave, Pushes for Impeachment appeared first on GOSSIP A - Z.

A Nakuru resident is being accused of assuming the identity of Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika and swindling former Nakuru Mayor Herman Nderi and a businessman out of Ksh40 million. The fraud involved promising them valuable land in both Nakuru and Nairobi Counties.

The defendant, Lucy Nyambura, was brought before the Nakuru Law Courts after her apprehension on Thursday, March 14. This occurred after law enforcement officers searched her home in response to reports accusing her of deceivingly acquiring Ksh40 million by impersonating Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika.

Among the twelve individuals filing complaints are ex-Nakuru Mayor Herman Nderi and his colleague Peter Mwangi. They were allegedly assured plots of land in different sizes across Nakuru’s Milimani Estate, Karen, Kitusuru, and Kileleshwa in Nairobi County, as well as residential units in Nakuru’s Bondeni Estate.

Reportedly, Nyambura is said to have supplied the complainants with deceptive land allocation documents and organized encounters with government authorities to make the supposed transactions appear legitimate.

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Although she never encountered the complainants in person, it is said that she communicated with them via phone, pretending to be Governor Kihika.

In a police raid conducted at her home, officials found images of Nyambura posing with the President, Governor Kihika, and former Nakuru County Assembly Speaker Joel Kairo.

Investigators probing the matter successfully tracked the illicit funds to Nyambura’s account at the bank.

Lucy pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a Ksh8 million bond with a similar surety.

Nderi, one of the individuals filing a complaint, took legal action against the government for alleging that prison officers tortured him after his arrest on accusations of conspiring to overthrow former President Daniel Moi’s administration.

Justice Isaac Lenaola granted him Ksh3.5 million on August 2, 2012, which rose to Ksh4.1 million by 2013.

Woman Poses as Nakuru Governor, Swindles Ksh40M from Officials with False Land Promises

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A fierce political feud between Nakuru Governor Susah Kihika and Senator Tabitha Karanja is on the verge of causing a significant rift within the United Democratic Party (UDA).

The conflict between the two leaders has also created a division among their followers in Nakuru County.

The fallout of the two former allies has raised political temperatures in the country.

On Thursday, the intense competition took a different turn when Governor Kihika gave his support to Nakuru East MP David Gikaria, who will be challenging Senator Karanja in the upcoming 2027 General Elections.

In the 2022 General Elections, they ran their campaigns together and were both successfully elected under the UDA ticket.

However, the two individuals have now become adversaries, as their disagreements have escalated into a comprehensive political conflict.

The conflict over land ownership between the county government under Kihika’s leadership and Nakuru War Memorial Hospital has exacerbated the existing differences between the two leaders.

They’ve been involved in an ongoing verbal conflict, where the senator has alleged that the county boss is disregarding court orders, describing it as a potential cause for disorder in the county.

Governor Kihika has dismissed her opponent’s Senate contributions and even pledged her support for Mr. Gikaria in his bid to replace Senator Karanja.

“The only problem I have in Nakuru is that the senator is not pro-devolution. Instead of using her position as is required by the constitution to push for resources for our county, she is busy name calling on social media and summoning MCAs,” Governor Kihika said in London ward on Thursday.

The power struggle among leaders has also divided the leadership within the county.

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Governor Kihika initiated the road tarmacking project in the ward on Thursday, joined by MP Gikaria and Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama.

The Senator was accused by two lawmakers of exploiting the Nakuru War Memorial Hospital controversy to enhance her political image in preparation for the upcoming elections.

“What we’re experiencing in Nakuru is like the turbulence that disrupts flights midair. But like an experienced pilot, we know the Governor’s intentions for the people of Nakuru. We’re asking her to continue steering the county and avoid the naysayers,” Mr Gikaria said as he affirmed he was ready to take on the Senator in the 2027 polls.

Senator Karanja expressed worry that Nakuru County disregarded court directives that had halted the devolved unit from assuming control or intervening in the administration of Nakuru War Memorial Hospital. This injunction was to remain in effect until the court had heard and made a decision on the pending lawsuit.

“This signals a worrying trend and it must stop,” Senator Karanja said.

Governor Kihika is currently involved in a political competition with fellow Members of Parliament within the county.

The Members of Parliament claim that the governor’s administration is neglecting their regions and cite disagreements over accusations that she is supporting their political rivals.

The MPs include Paul Chebor (Rongai), Joseph Tanui (Kuresoi South), Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Martha Wangari (Gilgil) as well as former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri.

The legislators opposing Kihika have introduced a new political group called G7, receiving backing from Senator Karanja.

“We thought she would unite all of us but she has done the opposite. She has been moving around the county demeaning other elected leaders and sowing seeds of discord,” said Kuresoi North MP Alfred Mutai.

MCAs have also been sucked into the Kihika-Karanja feud, with a sizeable number of them rallying behind the Governor.

UDA Rift: Susan Kihika vs. Tabitha Karanja Sparks Political Showdown in Nakuru

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